FIRST AMENDMENT TO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

                                                               Exhibit 10.27(1)



                         FIRST AMENDMENT TO INDEPENDENT
                              CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to Independent Contractor Agreement (the
"Amendment") is entered into as of the 23rd day of July, 1999, by and between
JORE CORPORATION, a Montana corporation (the "Company") and XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX,
a resident of the State of Connecticut ("Contractor"), with reference to the
following facts:

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Company and Contractor entered into that certain Independent
Contractor Agreement, effective as of June 3, 1999 (the "Agreement").

         B. The Company and Contractor desire to amend the Agreement by this
Amendment.

         IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MUTUAL PROMISES set forth in this Amendment and
in the Agreement, the Company and Contractor hereby amend the Agreement as
follows:

         1. Section 3.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and
replaced with the following new Section 3.1:

                  3.1 The Company shall pay Contractor the sum of One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000) for his services under this Agreement. Payment of
the amount due hereunder shall be made on January 21, 2000.


         2. All other terms of the Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.


JORE CORPORATION                            CONTRACTOR



_____________________________               ________________________________
By:  Xxxx Xxxx                              Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Its:  President